Sound-reproducer



J. H'OFFAY.

SOUND REPRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.3,1913- RENEWED Nov. 15,1919.

1,382,086, Patented June 21, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W TIVESSES J. HOFFAY.

SOUND REPRODUCER.

APPLICATION HLED APR3. 1913. RENEWED NOV; 15.1919.

Patented June 21, 1921 WITNESSES UNITED STATES JOSE HOFFA'Y, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SOUND-BEPRODUCER.

Application filed. April 3, 1913, Serial No. 758,603.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Jose HOFFAY, a citizen of the Republic of Mexico, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Sound-Reproducer, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in sound reproducing devices, and has for an object to provide an improved structure wherein the sound reproducing element is connected with the stylus by a non-metallic substance, whereby the metallic sound or scratching of the stylus will not be reproduced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reproducing device arranged with a pair of diaphragms connected up with a single stylus through a non-metallic member arranged in such a manner that when the stylus is operated, both of the diaphragms will be operated according to the direction of movement of the stylus, and will by their own action return to their original positions, causing the vibrations.

necessary for the productions of sounds.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reproducing device formed with one diaphragm connected with a single stylus bifurcated into two transmitting levers through a non-metallic member so that the diaphragm will be operated from.each side.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bifurcated stylus lever straddling the diaphragm and connected with opposite sides thereof by means of articulating elements arranged substantially perpendicular 'to the plane of the diaphragm and the longitudinal axes of the forks of the lever whereby the diaphragm will be positively vibrated by the undulations in the groove of a record and,v

also whereby the molecular vibration set up in the stylus and lever by the surface inequalities in the groove will be neutralized and not transmitted to the diaphragm to distort a true note. The high G of a tenor vibrates 512 times a second and, if in the record reproduction 1000 supplemental vibrations should be set up during this second by the surface inequalities in the record groove, the note is thinned and reproduced at a higher pitch, but my invention overcomes this by permitting this molecular vi bration to pass to the ends of the tines without efiect on the elements joining the same Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 21, 1921.

Renewed November 15, 1919. Serial No. 338,323.

to the diaphragm for the reasons that the line of direction is changed by the perpendicular arrangement of the said elements with res ect to both the lever tines and to the diap ragm and that the said elements have an articulating connection with said tines and with said diaphragm whereby the lever may have longitudinal molecular vibratory movement without effect on the diaphragm and the tines of the lever counterbalance each other in the molecular vibration.

In carrying out the objects of the inven tion, one or more diaphragms are provided connected up with suitable sound boxes and associated with a stylus so that when the stylus is moved by the usual record, the diaphragms will be operated. In connecting the diaphragms and the stylus. a flexible non-metallic member is used, as for instance a textile cord, either of the ordinary twisted variety, or of a plaited variety, the same being substantially inelastic, or else a nonmetallic member is used, as for instance, a piece of wood, the ends of which engage two diaphragms and constantly hold them under tension so as to move them with precision when the vibrations are transmitted by the lever carrying the stylus.

'A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a side view of a reproducing device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section through Fig. 1 approximately on line 2-2';

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the device when turned so as to use a record having vertical indentations Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sec-' tional view approximately on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front view of a slightly modified form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View through Fig. 5 approximately on the line 6-6;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing a further slightly modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a slightly modified form of the in vention to that shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a record having will effectually work at a time.

horizontally undulating or zigzag grooves 2 designed to receive a stylus 3 and move the same back and forth in a lateral direction. The stylus 3 is clamped by a suitable set screw to a lever 4- pivotally mounted upon the sound box 5. The lever 4 at its inner end has connected therewith a disk or retaining member 6 (Fig. 4), to which is secured connecting vmembers 7 and 8, preferably formed from silk cord. These connecting members are secured to the diaphragms 9 and 10 by being-passed through suitable apertures in the diaphragms and then being knotted at 11 and 12. Washers 13 and 14 are also used for properly holding the cords 7 and 8 in place. If desired, the cords could be knotted at 15 and 16 so as to positively prevent any loose movement. In order to insure a tight connection between. the cords and the diaphragms, and also to seal the openings, drops of wax 17 and 18 are placed on the washers 13 and 14 and permitted to pass through the apertures and around the cord for sealing the apertures and also sealing the cord properly in place. By this means when the lever 4 is moved in one direction, cord 7 for instance is pulled for moving the diaphragm 9, and when the lever 4 moves in the opposite direction, the cord 8 is pulled for moving the diaphragm 10. The length of the cords is such as to maintain the diaphragms under tension or slightly bowed. The diaphragms being in. this condition it will be evident that when either of the cords are pulled the opposite cord is maintained taut by the receding of the other diaphragm which automatically takes up any slackness in the cord. In this way both diaphragms The diaphragm 10 is mounted in the sound box 5 in the usual manner by a suitable rubber cushioning ring 19, while diaphragm 9 is.

mounted in sound box 20 by a similar arrangement. The sound boxes 5 and 20 are connected by suitable screws 21 which may be adjusted so as to bring the cords 7 and 8 under proper tension. In ordinary use, it is found advantageous to maintain the cords 7 and 8 under such tension as to slightly bow the diaphragms and thus cause the same to operate upon the slightest move ment of the stylus. When it is desired to use the device upon record 25 (Fig. 3) which is provided with vertical indentations 26 which will cause the stylus 3 to move up and down instead of'back and forth, the sound boxes 5 and 20 are turned edgewise or 90 from the position shown in Fi 1, and at a vertical slant any desired egree from the surface of the record. This will allow the stylus 3 to move back and forth in a vertical direction and yet permit the proper movement of lever 4 and the diaphragms 9 and 10. The supporting connections for the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 and that shown in Fig. 3, may be of any suitable kind for properly directing the sound and for properly holding the reproducing device in position.

In Figs. 5 and 6, another form of the invention is shown, in which the stylus 3 is connected to a. bifurcated lever'4 having arms 27 and 28. Cords 29 and 30 similar to cords 7 and 8, are connected with arms 27 and 28 and with diaphragm 31. By this means wheneverthe stylus 3 is moved back and forth the diaphragm will be correspondingly moved. The diaphragm 31 is mounted in the usual manner in a sound box 32, to which is connected 2. sound directing tube 33. Suitable apertures or notches 34 are provided in the tube 33 and the tubular extension 35 of sound box 32, for permitting av proper back and forth movement of arm 27. If desired, these openings could be closed by a slide connected with arm 27, or by a suitable flexible member, as for instance a piece of cloth or piece of rubber.

In Fig. 7, a still further slightly modified form of the invention is disclosed, wherein the lever 4 is connected by cord 36 to a normally dished diaphragm 37 arranged in sound box 38. A spring 39 is connected with lever 4 for normallyholding cord 36 under tension.

Fig. 8 shows a modified form of the invention to that shown in Fig. 7, wherein the lever 4 has cords 7 and 8 connected therewith similar to the showing in Fig. 4, cord 8 being connected with the normally dished diaphragm 40, while the opposite cord is connected with the spring 41 rigidly secured to the sound box 42.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a talking machine sound box having a diaphragm and provided with an opening in the side of said'box in the rear of said diaphragm, of a stylus-lever fulcrumed upon said soundbox and having an arm which passes through said opening into said sound box, an air-tight closure for said opening permitting movement of said lever arm and articulating means joining said arm with said diaphragm.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSE HOFFAY.

Witnesses:

A. L. Krrorrm, PHILIP l). ROLLHAUS. 

